Olympus has today announced a new digital camera following on from its Camedia C-700 UltraZoom series, the Camedia C-720 UltraZoom. Featuring a 3 megapixel CCD imager and 8x optical zoom lens, the camera beats its predecessor for resolution but doesn't have quite the range of the 10x optical zoom lens on that model. Other changes include a 3x digital zoom in place of the previous 2.7x type, the removal of the ISO 800 rating (now a maximum of 400) and the external flash sync. The bundled SmartMedia is doubled from an 8MB card to a 16MB one. Size and weight remain identical, but the CCD imager is a touch larger at 0.4 inches (meaning that most of the zoom range lost in the switch from a 10x lens to an 8x is at the telephoto end, where the camera reaches a 35mm equivalent of 320mm as compared to 380mm on the C-700UZ.

The Olympus Camedia C-720 UltraZoom will ship in the USA this June at a cost of $699 (MSRP) / $599 (Estimated Street Price), $100 below the MSRP of the previous model but around the same cost on the street. Canadian pricing will be $899 (MSRP). Full specifications and product photos courtesy of Olympus follow:

May 8, 2002 Melville, NY-- Proving once again that Nothing's Impossible, Olympus America achieves another first in digital photography with the introduction of the CAMEDIA C-720 Ultra Zoom. Featuring a high quality 8X optical ultra- zoom lens (24X total seamless zoom) in a compact and stylish body, the C-720 Ultra Zoom is easy to use, and is the ideal camera for family, sports, action, and nature photography. Weighing only 11 ounces and measuring a minimal 3.1" x 4.2", the C-720 Ultra Zoom is the ultimate 3 Megapixel camera for an active lifestyle at a price of only $599.

Based on the popular Olympus C-700 Ultra Zoom (2001's #1 best-selling digital camera in its category), the C-720 Ultra Zoom is targeted at the photographer ready to step up to a more powerful camera that is still easy-to-use and affordable. "Many users of point and shoot cameras have a need for greater telephoto zoom lens to capture outdoor and action shots, which is why Olympus created the Ultra Zoom category," said Michele Derenches, Product Manager Olympus America Inc. " The new C-720 Ultra Zoom offers an 8x zoom, which is an equivalent telephoto of over 300 mm -- longer than many lenses used on consumer SLR cameras. With a fast shutter speed of 1/1000th of a second, the C-720 Ultra Zoom is perfect for distant fast action shots, such as those captured by enthusiasts who photograph sporting events, wildlife, school graduations, and performances. The C-720 Ultra Zoom's extensive shutter speed range allows long exposures of up to 8 seconds, enabling creative and travel photographers to photograph night scenes or sunsets with absolute confidence in final image quality."

Picture Quality Olympus high-quality photos are known worldwide for their vibrant, sharp and photo-realistic image quality. This is achieved with a host of key technologies including Olympus' high-quality all-glass lens (with aspherical lens elements), which provides the equivalent of 40 to 320 mm f2.8-f3.4 in 35mm photography. The 3 Megapixel CCD with Olympus' True Pic technology allows users to retain the realistic high-quality look of their photographs, even with large print sizes over 8" x 10".

Ease of Use The C-720 Ultra Zoom is extremely easy to use. In Programmed Auto mode, the camera offers basic point-and-shoot simplicity for flawless picture taking in typical situations. The easy-to-use Scene Program on the mode dial provides fully automatic exposure adjustments for the photographer who wants optimum results in a wide variety of settings: Portrait, Landscape-Portrait, and Sports shooting. The special "My Mode" feature saves time by letting the user assign a frequently-used function to the mode dial for quick access.

Transferring images to the computer has never been easier with the supplied Auto-Connect USB cable for "no software required," hassle-free image downloads. Images may also be viewed on a television with the supplied video out cable.

ABOUT OLYMPUS - Nothing's Impossible Based in Melville, New York, Olympus America distributes a wide range of products for the consumer, scientific, health care, commercial and industrial markets. These include film cameras that provide the ultimate combination of performance and style, and digital cameras that produce the most realistic digital images yet available. Microcassette and digital voice recorders, binoculars, personal photo printers, medical and industrial endoscopes, biological and metallurgical microscopes and measuring instruments, clinical analyzers, and other high technology products. Olympus America is responsible for sales in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.